A range of affordable homes will help local people in housing need, thanks to a project involving Persimmon’s Midlands team and Grand Union.
A total of 95 new homes, developed at Towcester Grange – ranging from one to four bedrooms – have now been transferred to Grand Union, who will own and manage the homes as the developer’s housing association partner in Towcester. A further 40 affordable homes are planned for completion through 2024 and 2025. Grand Union’s Dave Lakin said: “It’s great to work in partnership with national housebuilders like Persimmon. Our partnership at Towcester is enabling us to deliver more affordable homes than planning required. “As a result, we’ve been able to deliver more homes for social and affordable rent and for shared ownership, all of which are in high demand and are let or sold really quickly. “We’re pleased to be able to help meet the need for affordable housing locally. We’ve built 385 homes in Northants over the last three years, and we plan to build 355 more over the next few years, to help play our part in solving the UK’s housing crisis.” David Ablett, Construction Director Designate at Persimmon Homes Midlands, said: “Handing over a portion of our homes at Towcester Grange is the latest example of our successful partnership with Grand Union which is delivering much-needed affordable homes for local families across the Midlands. It was great to welcome Dave to the site to see the positive impact these homes are having in the region.”Turnover success for growing manufacturer
Doorcerts, the Nottinghamshire-based fire door supplier and manufacturer, is celebrating its growth after its first full financial year in new premises.
The company was officially founded in Ripley in 2020 but it wasn’t until it, and established sister company Fire Door Specialists, moved to Stanton Hill, Ashfield in late 2022 that it began operating fully.
In its financial year December 2022 to January 2023, it hit its forecast turnover and is already on track to be well ahead of its £1m target for this year.
When it moved to Stanton Hill, Doorcerts had just two staff members. Now it has seven and is also recruiting for an additional estimator.
It carries out work for a range of public and private sector organisations, and can name customers such as Cadburys, the Ministry of Defence, property developers and local councils among its client list.
Director and co-founder Kieran Percival said: “When we moved premises, we did so because we wanted space for the business to grow. We had, and continue to have, big plans and we are well on the way to achieving them.
“We have grown quite considerably recently, and we are very grateful for the support and advice we have been given along the way. Although we are growing, we are also a close-knit team here at Doorcerts and I think that that, along with being dedicated to customer service and having an ethos of transparency, has been the hallmark of our success so far.”
One of the people that Doorcerts recruited was the highly-experienced Sarah Armson, who has a background in fire safety products.
As commercial manager, she has overseen the development of the business, putting in place robust systems and policies, and co-ordinating the marketing along with specially-recruited marketing coordinator Craig Priest.
Derbyshire charity golf day set to help to make the sport more inclusive
The owner of a Derby heating firm is looking forward to raising awareness of the need for more accessibility on golf courses after agreeing to co-sponsor a fundraising event featuring some of Europe’s leading disabled golfers.
Stephen O’Brien, who owns Derby-based S O’Brien Heating Solutions, has joined forces with Derbyshire marketing agency Purpose Media to host a golf day next month to help generate funds for this year’s Cairns Cup competition.
The Cairns Cup is disability golf’s premier matchplay event and resembles the Ryder Cup, with a team of 16 golfers from Europe taking on a team from the USA over three days with a four-ball, foursomes and singles rounds.
The golf day, which will take place at Morley Hayes on June 11, is being held to raise funds to pay their costs and will see teams from businesses from across the East Midlands competing throughout the day alongside a number of the European squad, whose disabilities include paralysis, cerebral palsy and Parkinson’s.
They include star player Kris Aves, a former Metropolitan police officer who suffered spinal injuries when he was run over by a terrorist driving a stolen van in the Westminster Bridge attacks of 2007 – just minutes after he picked up a special award for his service to the force.
Now paralysed from the waist down, Kris gets around the golf course on a Paragolfer, a special wheelchair which enables him to get into a standing position when he needs to take his shots.
Other Cairn Cup team members will be taking part on June 11, alongside a team from British Inclusive Golf, who will be showing what’s possible in the world of disabled golf.
Steve is a keen golfer himself, having originally played the sport when he was 12. He gave it up a few years later but, when lockdown restrictions were lifting after COVID three years ago, he headed back out onto the golf course to get some much-needed fresh air and exercise.
He said: “I really enjoy my golf, so sponsoring an event like this seems like the right thing to do, but I really want to highlight how important it is to make golf more inclusive.
“A lot of golf courses are really not inclusive for disabled players, especially when it comes to getting in and out of the bunkers where disabled players are at risk of picking up penalties for not playing their shots.
“The rules need to change, so we need to raise awareness of the situation, which our golf day will do. It will also give local businesses the opportunity to play alongside the Cairns Cup players and see first-hand how incredible they are.”
The Cairns Cup takes place at Cherry Creek Golf Club in Detroit at the end of July and the European team will be seeking revenge, having lost to the USA at The Shire London, in Barnet, in 2022.
The event was established in 2018 when former soldier and disabled golfer Kevin Booth and fellow players decided to set up a Ryder Cup-style competition in memory of a friend, Billy Cairns, who died during a previous Europe vs USA disabled golf event called the Phoenix Cup.
Matt Wheatcroft, managing director of Purpose Media, said: “Our charity golf day will give players a unique opportunity to understand the challenges faced by disabled golfers and the incredible ways in which they have adapted in order to play their game.
“We’ve got plenty of activities organised for the day and we’re all looking forward to it.”
It costs £400 per team of four to take part in the Morley Hayes charity golf day, which will include breakfast, a two-course dinner and an awards ceremony, as well as competitions throughout the day. To sign up to the golf day visit www.purposemedia.co.uk/purpose-media-golf-day-2024/
East Midlands business confidence on the rise
Business confidence in the East Midlands rose five points during May to 40%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.
Companies in the East Midlands reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up six points to 40%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up five points to 41%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 40% (vs. 35% in April).
Looking ahead to the next six months, East Midlands businesses identified their top target areas for growth as investing in their team, for example through training (36%), evolving their offering (36%), and entering new markets (33%).
The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide. The data for this edition was collected between 1–16th May, before the UK general election was announced.
National picture
In May, overall UK business confidence reached its highest level since 2015 – rising by eight points to a net balance of 50%.
Businesses showed increased optimism in both their trading prospects (up nine points month-on-month to 54%) and the economy (up seven points to 46%). Firms’ trading outlook was the most optimistic in seven years, while economic optimism was the highest recorded since September 2021.
Scotland and the South East of England were the most optimistic of the UK nations or regions in May (both 57%), followed by the West Midlands (56%).
Sector insights
Similarly, there were particularly strong results reported in the construction and services sectors this month. Prospects in the construction sector jumped to 58% (up 20 points), the highest for 14 months, while in services, expected output increased to 57% (up 12 points). On the latter, it is the highest level since the survey was expanded in 2018. Expected business activity in the retail sector also improved to 49% (up three points).
Although trading prospects in manufacturing eased slightly to 49% (down three points), the underlying trend over the last three months remains positive.
Dave Atkinson, regional director for the East Midlands at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “It’s encouraging to see higher confidence across the East Midlands this month, particularly when it comes to firms’ own trading outlook. As businesses pursue their growth plans, we’ll continue to be their side to help make them a success.
“There’s good reason to be cheerful. May also saw the completion of the next step in a £1.14bn devolution deal for the region with the election of the first ever East Midlands Mayor.”
Hann-Ju Ho, senior economist, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “These results highlight a notable improvement in business confidence. Optimism about the economy increased to 46% this month – the highest result since September 2021, when the country was emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic, but before the energy crisis after the invasion of Ukraine.
“The regional picture has also improved – we’ve now seen increases in seven of the UK’s 12 regions, where there was previously a more mixed picture. Results in the South East, Scotland and the West Midlands were particularly strong. Across the sectors, there were strong, broad-based improvements in services and construction.”
East Midlands Mayor gives green light to country’s largest local area energy plan
An ambitious scheme to meet Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire’s net zero targets has moved one step closer to reality, after the newly formed East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) gave its backing to the region’s Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP).
The LAEP – which has been designed and developed by a number of local authorities across the region, alongside the Midlands Net Zero Hub – will be supported by EMCCA, which is funding its implementation over the next two years.
The initiative will see a data-driven, net zero ‘action plan’ rolled out across the region, which will aim to deliver an effective, on-time and value for money approach to climate resilience, tailored to the need of local communities.
It will set out priority areas for different elements of the region’s energy system and identify the areas where specific technologies – such as heat pumps, EV charging and insulation schemes – would be most effectively installed.
Mott MacDonald and Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) have been appointed to drive the project forward over the next two years, working collaboratively with local authorities and Midlands Net Zero Hub.
The Local Area Energy Plan, once implemented, will be the largest of its kind in England – putting the region in a strong position to attract investment and create jobs in green industries.
Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, said: “Thanks to the fantastic work of our local authorities and valued partners, our region is in a strong position to meet the challenge of net zero and secure a sustainable future for our young people.
“We need to make big, systemic changes to the ways we produce and consume energy – and here in the East Midlands we want to drive this on a local level, putting communities in control of how best to tackle climate change.
“That’s why I am delighted to see the East Midlands Combined County Authority, which I chair and lead, supporting the Local Area Energy Plan. Not only will it provide a clear roadmap for a greener future, but it will also encourage more investment in low carbon technologies – creating high-skilled jobs and business growth in sectors that are working towards the net zero transition.”
Wayne Bexton, Director of Green Growth, Investment and Assets at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “The appointment of a LAEP provider for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire is a significant milestone which will enable the new combined county authority to detail a clear, innovative path to achieving net zero.
“The work will ensure we can harness further investment into the region, creating new jobs and opportunities for training in low carbon industries.
“Our region has an unparalleled opportunity to lead for the UK on this agenda, and this is an exciting next step on that journey.”
Michael Gallagher, Director of Environment & Sustainability at Nottingham City Council (Interim) and Senior Responsible Officer Midlands Net Zero Hub, said: “The development of the largest Local Area Energy Plan in England, supported by the Midlands Net Zero Hub, has been a brilliant collaborative effort across all local authorities in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
“We are excited to be working with Mott-McDonald and IES to develop a joined-up plan that can help the region identify a cost-efficient route to net zero for the region that attracts investment, enables projects and supports economic growth.”
Work will get underway on rolling out the plan from June 2024.
Freeport initiative aims to link East Midlands to the coast through ‘green’ corridor
Freeport East and East Midlands Freeport are forging a new partnership to support a green freight corridor that will help decarbonise transport and drive enhanced skills and employment initiatives along the length of one of the UK’s most important transportation routes.
Building on the opportunities created by the Government’s recently published Freeports Delivery Roadmap, the initiative will support the decarbonisation of transport flows between the two Freeport locations. By working together, the Freeports will accelerate the technologies, business models, innovation and infrastructure needed to drive decarbonisation by utilising green hydrogen, electric charging systems and novel technology applications, such as digital twins.
Green Corridors are already an established part of the maritime decarbonisation sector. Delivering a green corridor initiative between the UK’s largest container port and the heart of the Midlands logistics Golden Triangle offers the opportunity to combine maritime and land transport decarbonisation initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint of goods entering and leaving the UK.
Every day more than 5,000 trucks and freight trains leave the ports in the Freeport East area, with most heading towards the Midlands and onwards to other part of the UK. East Midlands Freeport, which is centred on the Golden Triangle for logistics, road, rail and the UK’s largest dedicated air cargo operation at East Midlands Airport, provides significant opportunities to drive clean fuel applications that will influence the whole of the UK.
Projects already under way that will support the corridor include development of green logistics infrastructure in Felixstowe, Stowmarket and East Midlands Gateway. East Midlands Freeport is supporting the transition of the UK’s last coal fired power station at Ratcliffe on Soar to a clean energy production hub, while Freeport East is also developing a Green Hydrogen Hub that will support clean fuels for transport decarbonisation.
Tom Newman-Taylor, Chief Executive of East Midlands Freeport,said: “This exciting initiative illustrates how Freeports can be forerunners in the decarbonisation of transport and industry. We’re looking forward to working with Freeport East and our partners to deliver greener freight along this important corridor. With large-scale clean energy investments we can drive demand and opportunities for greener logistics, using our central location to deliver widespread change.”
Will Morlidge, Chief Executive of D2N2 LEP and Co-Chair of East Midlands Hydrogen, said: “I wholeheartedly support this commitment from East Midlands Freeport and Freeport East. Accelerating hydrogen freight decarbonisation is one of the seven priorities for East Midlands Hydrogen and this agreement will play a key role in achieving it. We’ll continue to work closely with East Midlands Freeport and our other East Midlands Hydrogen partners to drive this important priority forward.”
Town Board launched to drive £20m investment in Chesterfield
Plans to invest almost £20m in Chesterfield over the next decade have taken a major step forward, with the launch of a new independent board which will oversee how and where the funding is spent.
Local business leader Dominic Staniforth has been appointed to chair the new Chesterfield Town Board – sitting alongside representatives from other local businesses, community and voluntary organisations, and the public sector, including representation from Chesterfield Borough Council.
It follows the Government’s ‘Long-Term Plan for Towns’ announcement in October last year, which named Chesterfield as one of 55 UK towns to benefit from the new funding initiative – which aims to give local communities a greater voice in shaping improvements across the town.
Board members have now held their first formal meeting where it was agreed to run a public consultation exercise in June, giving local people the chance to have their say on how the money should be invested.
In line with Government guidance, a representative of Chesterfield Borough Council sits on the board, and the authority will also act as the board’s accountable body. However, all decisions about how the £19.5m worth of endowment-style funding is invested will be made by the Chesterfield Town Board, in consultation with local people.
Dominic Staniforth is a partner at BHP LLP Chartered Accountants – which has a base at One Waterside Place – and has been an active part of Chesterfield’s business community for many years.
He said: “Chesterfield is already a great town full of wonderful people and organisations that share a common purpose to make it even better – a place to live, work, invest and study – and this funding will further bolster our ability to deliver on that collective ambition.
“I am honoured to have been invited to become chair of the new Chesterfield Town Board and it’s fantastic that leaders from across the town, and the council, have already begun work to identify how and where this funding could make the greatest impact for local residents and businesses.
“Listening to the views of local people and understanding where they think this investment could make the biggest difference is at the heart of this work and we will be sharing more information about how to get involved in the coming weeks.”
Working closely with the council, the Board will now oversee the development of a long-term vision statement and three-year investment plan – to be developed following consultation with local people, and based on what they see as priority areas for investment. This must be submitted to the Government for approval later this summer.
Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of the council, said: “We have really strong and innovative business and community networks here in Chesterfield and this is again another great opportunity to bring people together – backed by millions of pounds worth of funding – to deliver projects which will make a real difference to the quality of people’s lives over the next 10 years.
“We’re delighted to welcome Dominic to the role of chair, as a local business leader with extensive experience of the area, and a shared passion and commitment to make the town of Chesterfield thrive for generations to come.”
In line with Government guidance, the funding must be spent across three key themes, which include: safety and security (to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour), high streets, heritage, and regeneration (making the place more attractive and accessible to residents, businesses, and visitors), transport and connectivity (improving access to the town centre, supporting greener modes of travel and enhancing public transport options).
Council receives approval of £15m regeneration fund
Bolsover District Council has received confirmation that its list of projects for the £15million Regeneration Funding awarded in the Autumn Statement has been approved.
The council submitted its schedule of schemes at the end of January 2024 in line with the government guidance and against tight timescales.
The funding is place-based for the whole of the District of Bolsover. When drawing up the list of schemes the council stipulated that the money should benefit the entire district and the projects put forward support this commitment.
The projects include improvements to the public realm around the district, enhancing shop fronts to help make the area more visually appealing to attract shoppers and visitors and the establishment of community and creative hubs.
Also included in the bid was the redevelopment of prominent buildings in Bolsover town to help create a thriving place people want to visit and work in.
Council Chief Executive, Karen Hanson said: “We had just eleven days from when we received the funding criteria to submitting the initial schemes, so we are delighted to have received confirmation that we have the go-ahead.
“We will now look to prioritise the schemes and ensure the money we have been allocated is well spent and benefits our communities.”
Figures released earlier this year indicate that since 2020 just over 10% of the money allocated from the Government’s Levelling Up agenda has been spent as local authorities are struggling to meet the deadlines. Something which Council Leader, Steve Fritchley was keen to avoid.
Councillor Steve Fritchley said: “Since the announcement was made in the autumn, I made it quite clear that we were going to spend the money in the District of Bolsover and not be sending any back.
“So, I want to thank all our officers who have worked tirelessly on this project to get it to this stage and over the line, sometimes in very difficult circumstances. The key to this now is delivering on what we have promised by March 2026, and that is something I know we will do.”
Rotherhill Developments makes director promotion
Midlands commercial property developer and asset manager, Rotherhill Developments, has promoted Ed Jeffrey to director.
In his new role as director at Rotherhill, Ed will continue to source and deliver commercial opportunities, working closely with agents, landowners and building owners directly to secure new developments and investments, as well as implementing asset management initiatives across Rotherhill’s existing portfolio to deliver returns for investors.
Additionally, he will be actively involved in the onboarding of new recruits to the business as the team continues to expand.
Ed Jeffrey says: “Over the last five years at Rotherhill, I have acquired and delivered a wide range of projects. The majority have focussed on repositioning existing assets, with and without income.
“They have involved back-to-frame and lighter touch refurbishments, changes of use and the release of land for delivering new build development, together with more typical investment asset management where tenants are in situ.”
Paul Bagshaw, owner and founder of Rotherhill Developments, says: “Ed’s promotion is a reflection of his hard work and dedication over the last five years. He has a strong track record of success.
“Since joining Rotherhill, he has overseen the delivery of a number of successful projects from acquisition to exit and continues to help expand our pipeline, with the business on track to acquire 5 new projects in the first half of 2024.
“We are actively engaged in plans to grow the company in terms of recruitment, increasing the pipeline activity and accelerating deals, with Ed’s promotion part of the overall business strategy.”
Mortgage Advice Bureau acquires remaining shareholding of First Mortgage Direct
Derby-based Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB) has acquired the remaining 20% shareholding of First Mortgage Direct for £9.35m from Managing Director Ian McGrail.
It follows the firm’s acquisition of 80% of First Mortgage in 2019.First Mortgage made a profit before tax of £5.4 million in the year ended 31 December 2023, and had net assets of £9.3 million as at 31 December 2023. Ian McGrail will continue to be Managing Director of First Mortgage.
Ben Thompson, Deputy CEO, MAB, said: “Acquiring an 80% shareholding in First Mortgage in 2019 was strategically important to MAB at the time, enabling us to grow our expertise in specific market specialisms such as new build, and accelerate our overall market share as a Group.
“Despite the various challenges we all faced together over the last five years, the business has grown substantially in size and in profitability and has become even more important to MAB. We are therefore really pleased to have now acquired the final 20% shareholding from Ian McGrail.
“Importantly, we are delighted that Ian has decided to commit to stay on as Managing Director and take First Mortgage further over the coming years, having done such an excellent job of the last five, and indeed the years prior to that.”
